I said I know what you mean TRhit......
low
chill !!!!!
chill !!!!!
I believe that a hitter should step into the box with a game plan. And teams should have a game plan. That team game plan is (all our hitters will step into the box with a game plan). If your a 4 hole hitter with a great reputation for mashing then you are going to approach your ab's differently than the 8 hole hitter that struggles to drive the baseball. The 8 hole guy could have the game plan that he knows he is going to get first pitch fb and he needs to be ready to jump all over it. The 4 hole hitter may be looking for fb away or cb for a strike or cu for a strike. In other words each batter is different and they need to have their own game plan based on their strengths and where they like the baseball. You can not teach a team to all have the same exact approach at the plate. Hitters will get pitched to differently based on their ability and their reputation as hitters and where they hit in the order. Plus this can change as the game goes along based on what the other team has seen in the first ab or first couple of abs. Its about making adjustments from ab to ab. One thing for sure is "Hitters who swing at good pitches to hit that they like will have more success than the ones that dont". It doesnt matter if its the first pitch or the 6th pitch.
As far as a controlled scrimmage using an L screen that is something we do at least once a week in practice. We also take alot of bp from the L on the field with our defense playing everything like a game situation. The batter has a count and steps in with a game plan. Hey a fb on the outside corner might be a great first pitch to hit for one kid and something that another would never want to attack in an 0-0 count. Each kid is different and they need to have a game plan at the plate. I have always taught my son to "Look for a specific pitch in a specific location on 0-0 count. Expect it to be there and if it is crush it. If its not then it matters not if its a strike or ball you let it go and start all over." It has worked well for him. At the earlier ages it was fb over the heart of the plate because that was what most guys including him usually got. As you get older and the pitchers get better the game plan changes just like in a game it changes. If you are sitting on cb first pitch and you get it and mash it you might not want to be sitting on cb first pitch your next ab. My son gets pitched alot differently now in HS. If he does not chase early in the count he will either get a real good pitch to hit or get walked. Its all about make adjustments and knowing what you can do and can not do. BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GAME PLAN. AND AS A COACH YOU CAN NOT MAKE EACH KID HAVE THE EXACT SAME GAME PLAN. Because they are not clones and they shouldnt be made into clones.
As far as a controlled scrimmage using an L screen that is something we do at least once a week in practice. We also take alot of bp from the L on the field with our defense playing everything like a game situation. The batter has a count and steps in with a game plan. Hey a fb on the outside corner might be a great first pitch to hit for one kid and something that another would never want to attack in an 0-0 count. Each kid is different and they need to have a game plan at the plate. I have always taught my son to "Look for a specific pitch in a specific location on 0-0 count. Expect it to be there and if it is crush it. If its not then it matters not if its a strike or ball you let it go and start all over." It has worked well for him. At the earlier ages it was fb over the heart of the plate because that was what most guys including him usually got. As you get older and the pitchers get better the game plan changes just like in a game it changes. If you are sitting on cb first pitch and you get it and mash it you might not want to be sitting on cb first pitch your next ab. My son gets pitched alot differently now in HS. If he does not chase early in the count he will either get a real good pitch to hit or get walked. Its all about make adjustments and knowing what you can do and can not do. BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GAME PLAN. AND AS A COACH YOU CAN NOT MAKE EACH KID HAVE THE EXACT SAME GAME PLAN. Because they are not clones and they shouldnt be made into clones.
Coach May:
I do not think it is good idea to seat down on a CB or CU for a very simple reason. If the pitch is a fastball and you are thinking CB or CU it is impossible to react and hit a fastball. The right approach (game plan?) is to look for outside corner fastball, and react to the inside fastball or breaking pitch. If you keep the hands back you always will have time to hold the swing for a slower pitch, but if you hold your swing waiting for the breaking pitch, you will not have time to swing to the fast ball. Seat on pitches(guessing), may work just when your guess is right, reacting to pitches is the way to become a good hitter.
I do not think it is good idea to seat down on a CB or CU for a very simple reason. If the pitch is a fastball and you are thinking CB or CU it is impossible to react and hit a fastball. The right approach (game plan?) is to look for outside corner fastball, and react to the inside fastball or breaking pitch. If you keep the hands back you always will have time to hold the swing for a slower pitch, but if you hold your swing waiting for the breaking pitch, you will not have time to swing to the fast ball. Seat on pitches(guessing), may work just when your guess is right, reacting to pitches is the way to become a good hitter.
IMO - Every at bat is different because - usually - every situation you find yourself in is different.
You find yourself in a game with a short left field fence.
The opposing pitcher - a righthander - decides that he isnt about to miss inside to righthanded hitters - and give up an easy long ball.
So - the pitcher throws the first 3 innings against your righties- and he throws hard in off the plate - but mostly away - with good breaking stuff.
He blows threw your lineup - gains confidence with each hitter that keeps trying to pull the ball - and keeps throwing the ball on the outside corner against your righties.
So - you are a rightie hitter.
So - you get up - you look away - and you let the pitcher come to you.
You know the outside hittable pitch is coming - you let it get deep - and then you smack that outside pitch hard.
Every pitch is different - and every game is different.
Its in the game. IMO.
You find yourself in a game with a short left field fence.
The opposing pitcher - a righthander - decides that he isnt about to miss inside to righthanded hitters - and give up an easy long ball.
So - the pitcher throws the first 3 innings against your righties- and he throws hard in off the plate - but mostly away - with good breaking stuff.
He blows threw your lineup - gains confidence with each hitter that keeps trying to pull the ball - and keeps throwing the ball on the outside corner against your righties.
So - you are a rightie hitter.
So - you get up - you look away - and you let the pitcher come to you.
You know the outside hittable pitch is coming - you let it get deep - and then you smack that outside pitch hard.
Every pitch is different - and every game is different.
Its in the game. IMO.
When you are sitting on the bench - and your team is up - you are supposed to be watching everything.
Watch the pitcher's eyes - watch the catcher - locate the defensive players - watch who moves well and who doesnt - watch everything.
Find a weakness - then try to exploit it.
Might be taking a pitch - might not.
Might be waiting for a change up or curve to steal on.
Might be watching to see if the pitcher can slide step.
Might be watching to see if the catcher is tired.
Might be alot of things.
One thing is for sure - you gotta watch everything - and then try to exploit it aggressively.
And you keep doing it until they stop you.
And if they do stop you - you might even try to do it again - just to make sure they werent lucky the first time.
IMO.
Watch the pitcher's eyes - watch the catcher - locate the defensive players - watch who moves well and who doesnt - watch everything.
Find a weakness - then try to exploit it.
Might be taking a pitch - might not.
Might be waiting for a change up or curve to steal on.
Might be watching to see if the pitcher can slide step.
Might be watching to see if the catcher is tired.
Might be alot of things.
One thing is for sure - you gotta watch everything - and then try to exploit it aggressively.
And you keep doing it until they stop you.
And if they do stop you - you might even try to do it again - just to make sure they werent lucky the first time.
IMO.
In a game - you look for ways to win.
It isnt a showcase - where you have to prance around like a showdog - and hope that the observers give you a good rating.
Its a game - and your objective is to win.
The objective isnt to jump the highest - or run the fastest.
Your objective isnt to be the prettiest showdog.
Your objective is to help your team win.
That is baseball. I hope. IMO.
It isnt a showcase - where you have to prance around like a showdog - and hope that the observers give you a good rating.
Its a game - and your objective is to win.
The objective isnt to jump the highest - or run the fastest.
Your objective isnt to be the prettiest showdog.
Your objective is to help your team win.
That is baseball. I hope. IMO.
Some kids in HS can sit on cb cu and still be out in front of the average HS pitcher. It depends on the level of pitching you are facing and how you get pitched. Our #8 hitter is sitting dead red fb on every pitch or he will get blown away. Our top tier hitters are sitting on off speed and are still quick enough to hammer the average HS fastball. Its one reason we hit 37 hr's this year as a team. Too many teams get behind in the count watching hanging breaking balls for strikes which are much easier to mash than a fb at the knees on the outside corner. It depends on the hitter , how he is pitched and the quality of the pitcher.
Great post Gamer. Look middle away and react to the inside pitch. Your posts are so good. You speak of experience that I can relate to. Just play the game to win the game and everything else takes care of itself.
Great post Gamer. Look middle away and react to the inside pitch. Your posts are so good. You speak of experience that I can relate to. Just play the game to win the game and everything else takes care of itself.
In my personal opinion it really is a pitcher to pitcher basis. I played high school ball and during at tournament I got into a grove of jumping on the first pitch and it was highly successful at the time of the tournament. I was 5-14, 4 RBIs with 3 being the good ahead winning run. The playoffs started and I tried the same method and was about 2-15 which just kilt my average. But normally I am highly patient and always take the first pitch because it does have the highest percentage of getting the hitter out. Think about it, you see more guys hit and get under the ball first then they do hitting hard line drives in the gap. Just my opinion though.
